[News Today] Seoul mayor race debates housing

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With just over 20 days left until the June 3 local elections, the race in Seoul, the biggest battleground, is seeing a growing war of nerves over real estate policy. Democratic Party candidate Chong Won-o promoted his AI pledges, while putting the blame for Seoul's housing problems on his rival.

People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon, meanwhile, pointed to the former Democratic Party mayor and pushed his case for aggressive housing supply.

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Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor Chong Won-o has pledged to turn the capital city into a testing ground for artificial intelligence.

He vowed to support daily life through what he called 'AI within 15-minutes of one's neighborhood' as well as AI services tailored for small business owners, the elderly and people with disabilities.

For the Guro area, he promised to build a 'physical AI ecosystem'.

Chong Won-o / DP candidate for Seoul Mayor

AI shouldn’t be just for show but built in a way to actually improve people’s lives and quality of life.

He also didn't shy away from the highly debated real estate issue.

Chong criticized rival Oh Se-hoon’s past policy of lifting land transaction permit zones, calling it a blunder while repeating his pledge to shorten redevelopment and reconstruction procedures.

Chong Won-o / DP candidate for Seoul Mayor (CBS Radio)

Oh Se-hoon lifted the land transaction permit system almost impulsively. It was a huge mistake not based on data.

Meanwhile Oh, the mayoral candidate of the People Power Party, continued his offensive on what he called 'real estate hell'.

He admitted the lifting and then redesignation of permit zones was a mistake, but noted that it lasted only a month or two.

He instead said the supply shortage under the previous Democratic Party mayorship was the real cause of Seoul's housing problem.

Oh Se-hoon / PPP candidate for Seoul Mayor

‘Supply at all costs’. Seoul has no idle land. Redevelopment and reconstruction is the only solution for 80% of total supply.

Oh called for an open debate to discuss these issues.

Oh Se-hoon / PPP candidate for Seoul Mayor

Holding a debate on whether we can raise Seoul’s competitiveness is a natural duty and responsibility.

A war of nerves also ensued over Chong’s assault case involving a police officer from some 30 years ago.